International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM): Her voice. Her Future
The International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is observed annually on February 6th. It is a day designated by the international community to raise awareness about the harmful practice of female genital mutilation and to promote its eradication worldwide. The day serves as an opportunity for various stakeholders, including governments, NGOs, and individuals, to come together, celebrate progress made in the Campaign to eliminate all forms of FGM, advocate for the abandonment of the practice, and educate the public about the physical, psychological, and human rights consequences associated with FGM. The ultimate goal is to work towards a world where every girl and woman is free from the dangers and negative impacts of female genital mutilation. The theme for this is “Her Voice. Her Future. Investing in Survivor-Led Movements to End Female Genital Mutilation.” This emphasizes the crucial role of women-led and survivor-led organizations, especially at the grassroots level, in understanding and addressing the challenges faced by women and girls.
In Imo State, International NGOs, UN Agencies, and Civil Society Organizations have played a vital role in supporting survivors and investing in survivor-led initiatives for over a decade. Female genital mutilation, recognized internationally as a human rights violation, poses severe health risks, including infection, chronic pain, depression, infertility, and even death. Shockingly, there are more than 200 million survivors of FGM worldwide, and in 2024, approximately 4.4 million girls are at risk – that’s over 12,000 a day. Without intensified efforts, this number is projected to rise to 4.6 million in 2030. (UNFPA 2024). Female genital mutilation is a human rights violation that restricts access to opportunities, hindering girls and women from realizing their full potential. Although progress has been made, there’s a pressing need for more action to meet the global target of ending this practice by 2030. A comparison of the 2017 and 2021 Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey shows that, there has been a decrease in the prevalence of FGM for girls aged 0-14, from 51.6% to 38%, and for women aged 15-49, the practice moved from 22.2% to 9.7%.
Despite this positive trend, progress needs to be at least 10 times faster to achieve the 2030 goal.
The cost to end this practice by 2030 in 31 priority countries is estimated to be $2.75 billion (UNFPA 2024). The leadership of women and girls is crucial in accelerating progress, contributing to social and economic development, and ensuring that no girl or woman is left behind.
On this day, let’s join hands in amplifying survivors’ voices and investing in survivor-led movements. Together, we can work towards a future where no girl or woman is subjected to this harmful practice.